Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-11-10
TIE REPORTERS PAY.
ABLE MEN WHO DO HARD WORK
FOR LOW WAGES.

A Few Cold Facts Which Young Journal
lists May Do Well to Considerations
parative Salaries of Editors in Chief
and Their Subordinates.
New York doubtless has more good news
paper men than any other city, as shown in
my last letter, largely because the whole
world is made tributary to its demands in
this direction. Yet, as compared with other
pursuits think the fat takes" are few, the
owners Of publications getting the larger
share of the pie, though most of the men con-
trolling the best newspapers are usually Of
class that in other professions, and with SINH
lar investments, would make even more
money. Charles A. Dana is said to receive
only $4,000 salary, though his income
from Sun stock makes the snug sum yearly of
about 100000 Reid, of The Tribune, is
credited with S12, 900 salary; He, worth, edi-
tor of The Herald, $4,000. Mr. Miller, of
The Times, is supposed to receive $4,000, and
that papers managing editor, Mr. Reid,
5000. Col. COckrill, of The World, is sup
posed TO make 500, 600 from a small amount
of stock and his salary of $4,000. There is
every reason TO doubt the accuracy of these
figures, of course, for they are founded only
on rumor, and about such things rumor is
not often infallibe.
"GATH'S" $500 A WEEK
1t is doubtful if there is a better salary
paid in New York for newspaper work than
that given George Alfred Townsend by The
Cincinnati Enquirer, SOD per week, the cor
respondent having almost unlimited license
as to what he shall write or where from This
salary is not on account of stock it must be
remembered. An excellent authority among
New York journalists says the highest salary
here TO nOn-stockholdinC writers ON the city
papers Is 5000. This l. not far from right,
though some of the people so salaried make
5000 or 5000 more in other work Yet
even with $4,000 as yearly earnings, the
same men in similarly responsible positions in
business life would earn double or treble that
amount. There are jockeys that earn double
that salary. and lawyers by the score earn
100000 annually here, and it must be borne
in mind that a man who can command SlO,-
900 in journalism must have inordinate
ability-talents which, had they been wisely
directed in other channels would have placed
him on the highest plane.
Now let US look on the reportorial side of
journalism in New York Take The Sun as
an example, because it is the favorite paper
to work on. Mr.. Dana appreciat his
"bright young men" and talks about them,
and reporters strive for "sits" on his paper
accordingly.
On proof of ability, if there is a vacancy on
the reportorial staff of The Sun, the candi-
date will be put to work on a salary Of SIS a
week, which. if developments are satiSfac
tory, will be increased to SIS, then to $50 a
week. When developed into capable and
trustworthy newsgatherers the salary is
stopped and they are paid IS per column for
all their matter that is used. They are, of
course, assigned" or given definite matters
to look after. If the assignment does not de-
yelop copy" amounting to more than the
allowance, the reporter will receive fifty cents
an hour for the time consumed, on ten hours
daily, thus being sure of IS day Street
car or other expenses he must pay. though if
sent out of town his expenses are paid by the
paper.
WAGES OF PENCIL DRIVERS
The average earnings of The Suns repor-
torial workers is about s45 per week, and $50
is as well as any of them do. This paper
keeps a city force of thirty to thirty-fve men
for its morning edition and discards from
three to ten columns of matter in type every
morning. For matter discarded reporters
are allowed time rates. The editors in this
department are, of course, on salary. The
day or city editor lays out the work for his
reporters and the night editor, as one of the
boys puts it, keeps rake in one hand and a
carving knife i'll the other" In the carving
he has two assistants.
In addition to Dana pere and Dana fills The
Sun has an editorial writer. The managing
editor also does some of that work and has an
assistant for other things. The telegraph
sditor has an assistant too. The sporting,
dramatic, musical and literary editors are
salaried.